Nasal immunity against influenza
Official title: Immunity in the Nose to inFLUENza: Correlates of Efficacy (INFLUENCE)
Funded at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine · NIH-11332178 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses gentle nasal sampling and stored flu-challenge samples to learn how immune responses in the nose could help protect people from influenza.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | May 4, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $235,713 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3AI176172-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332178 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are healthy adults willing to provide nasal samples or who have previously taken part in influenza challenge studies and donated samples to biobanks.
✕Less likely to help
People with severe, ongoing influenza illness or unrelated chronic non-respiratory conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this study.
What this research studies
You may be asked to provide small, painless nasal secretions collected with a nasosorption device, which captures proteins and antibodies from the lining of the nose. Researchers will compare these new nasal samples from healthy volunteers with biobanked samples from people who underwent controlled influenza exposure. The team will develop and use tests that measure not just antibody levels but whether those mucosal antibodies can stop or clear the virus. Results aim to standardize nasal sampling methods and clarify which nasal immune responses matter most for preventing infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help guide vaccines or treatments that strengthen nasal immunity to better prevent flu infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows nasosorption reliably collects nasal proteins, but measuring the functional activity of mucosal antibodies is a newer area with limited prior results.
Where this research is happening
-
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
London, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thwaites, Ryan — Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
- Study coordinator: Thwaites, Ryan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.